After a car crash, the fake heiress claimed she was from five years in the future and that she was married to my husband. Late at night, she stripped naked, threw herself at my fiancé, and sobbed: "Five years from now, Chloe will steal all your assets, betray you, and even abort your child!" "I'm the only one who truly loves you! We are soulmates!" Ethan coldly tossed her out into the snow, repeatedly wiping his hands where she had touched him. "You're a lunatic." "The only woman I love is Chloe. Pull a stunt like this again, and I'll throw you back to the slums where you belong." The fake heiress tried everything. She took him to the place where they supposedly fell in love in the future, even trying to drug him to show him their "favorite future position." Ethan remained completely unmoved. And I firmly believed our love was as solid as a rock. Until the week before our wedding. I walked into our newly bought house and found Ethan, who was supposed to be on a business trip, pinning the fake heiress against our marital bed, kissing her passionately. "You win. You knew I couldn't bear to see you cry." "In three days, I'll force the Sterling family to acknowledge that you are the true heiress." "As for Chloe, she has me. That's enough for her." A sharp, plunging pain ripped through my heart, like a thousand arrows piercing my chest. But almost immediately, a cold laugh escaped my lips. Where did Ethan get the absolute delusion that I could only ever depend on him? ······ "Aren't you afraid Chloe will find out and leave you?" Ethan let out a dismissive chuckle. "She dreams of marrying me. Even if she found out, she'd only cling to me tighter. I'm her only lifeline." "Besides, she's spent the last twenty years acting as the fake heiress. She's used to settling." A sharp sting pierced my heart. Mia's biological mother, a maid, had swapped us at birth. Because of her, I spent twenty years living as a servant's daughter, enduring endless scorn and eye rolls. Ethan knew exactly how deep the bad blood ran between me and Mia. Yet he chose to sleep with her anyway. I took a deep breath, watching through the crack in the door as the two of them defiled my wedding bed. Strangely, my emotions began to completely detach and cool down. I dialed Ethan's number. A shrill ringtone shattered the mood in the room. The two lovebirds jumped. Ethan answered, his breathing slightly ragged. "Chloe? Hey, sorry, work is crazy right now. Go ahead and try on the wedding dresses without me. Buy whichever ones you like." Ethan had always been generous with his money. But this was the first time he had ever lied to me. No, maybe he had been lying ever since Mia started using that ridiculous "time traveler" excuse to seduce him. Who knows how many times they had played me for a fool. I fought back the burning sensation in my nose and asked: "But you promised you'd come with me." "You missed picking out the wedding rings, too." Mia giggled softly, licking Ethan's Adam's apple. Her small hand slid down his chest. "My silly little sister. That's because he was in my bed last time, too~" Ethan quickly covered the phone's microphone, shooting her a warning glare. "Chloe, sweetie, I'm swamped right now. You can handle this, be a good girl." Ethan hung up immediately. He pulled down Mia's skirt and slapped her backside. "You little brat. You did that on purpose, didn't you?" The sickening sounds of their entanglement drilled into my ears, shattering my last line of defense like a blade. Ethan, I gave you a chance. I walked out of the house and immediately made a phone call. "The conditions you proposed last time... I accept." "But before we sign, you need to help me put on a little show." That night, Ethan came home very late. He lifted the covers and pulled me into a tight embrace. "Chloe, I love you so much." "Do you like it? I had a friend bring it back from Paris." Acting like he was presenting a grand treasure, Ethan pulled a sapphire necklace from his pocket. The gem was flawless, reflecting the eager, fawning look in Ethan's eyes. I just felt disgusted. I had seen this exact necklace resting on Mia's upper thigh this afternoon. I didn't take it. I gently pushed him away. "I don't wear second-hand goods." Ethan's face stiffened for a fraction of a second. "What do you mean? It's brand new." "If you don't like it, I'll get you something else, okay?" "Chloe, are you just nervous about the banquet?" "I'll be right by your side at the recognition banquet in three days. I am your rock." Ethan looked at me with immense tenderness. It was the exact same look he always gave me, but now, it only made me feel a profound, chilling sadness. "Are you really still my rock?" "Ethan, swear to me. If you ever lie to me, I will never speak to you again." Ethan didn't take it seriously, assuming I was just having pre-wedding jitters. He squeezed my hand. "Of course I'll always be your rock." "Once the banquet is over, my parents won't have anything left to say, and I can finally marry my Chloe properly." I desperately wanted to convince myself to trust him one last time. He truly used to be my greatest protector. When I was still considered the maid's daughter, the Sterling family sponsored my attendance at an elite prep school. But Mia spread malicious rumors, claiming I was a thief who stole her things. The bullying got so bad I nearly lost my life. Ethan broke two ribs fighting them off to save me. He always stood firmly behind me. He shielded me from the rumors, fought off the bullies, and even stood up to his own parents for me. My eyes welled up with hot tears. I clumsily changed the subject. "Tomorrow is my final wedding dress fitting. You have to come with me." "I will." But early the next morning, Mia was standing in our living room, beaming as she clung to Ethan's arm. "Since you guys are going to get divorced in five years anyway, it doesn't matter if I tag along for the fun, right?" Ethan pulled his arm away, looking at her with apparent disgust. "You're talking nonsense again!" He walked over, took my hand, and rubbed his temples in exasperation. "She's having another episode. Just spewing crazy talk." "If it bothers you, I'll have security kick her out." "But your parents might complain about it later." My parents were just a convenient excuse. The person he actually cared about was her, wasn't it? It must be exhausting, working so hard to put on this act for me. Finding the whole situation darkly amusing, I nodded. "Fine. Let's all go." When he unlocked the car, Mia lunged forward and slid into the passenger seat before I could. "Oops, sorry! This is going to be my designated seat in the future anyway." "You don't mind if I exercise my privileges a little early, right?" Ethan shook his head with a sigh. "You really are..." That helpless, utterly doting tone. I don't think he even realized he was doing it. A tearing pain ripped through my chest. I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms. "Sure." "I've never liked using things that other people have already touched anyway." My words carried a heavy double meaning. The guilty party instantly looked uncomfortable. Ethan stepped toward me, opening his mouth to explain. I slammed the back door shut, cutting him off completely. The wedding dress had already been tailored to near perfection. This appointment was just a formality for the groom to see the final look. But as soon as I stepped out, Mia suddenly burst into tears. Looking utterly heartbroken, she sobbed: "That dress is exactly the same as the one we wear at our wedding five years from now!" "Ethan, it's okay if you don't remember, but I do!" "You can't be this cruel to me!" I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms as I watched her perform. Ethan looked at me helplessly. "Chloe, maybe... maybe you could pick a different dress?" I let out a sharp, incredulous laugh. "Because of some psychotic delusion she just made up, you want me to change my wedding dress?" "Ethan, do you actually still want to marry me?" Ethan panicked and pulled me into a hug, trying to soothe me. "You are the only woman I will ever marry." "But Chloe, it's just a dress. Is it really worth making a scene over?" I had waited six months for this dress. I hand-sewed every single pearl onto the bodice myself. My fingers had bled from needle pricks countless times. Ethan knew all of this. Yet, the moment Mia shed two fake tears, he immediately folded. For the first time, I saw with absolute, crystal clarity: this man no longer loved me. I took two steps back. "Fine. If that's how it is, do whatever you want." I turned on my heel and walked out. But Ethan didn't immediately chase after me like he used to. Instead, a few minutes later, Mia texted me a video. They were in the bridal boutique's changing room. Mia was wearing the dress I had bled to create, and Ethan was standing behind her, his hands gripping her waist. "If you don't chase after her, aren't you afraid Chloe will get mad and cancel the wedding?" Ethan laughed dismissively. "I've spoiled Chloe so much her ego has gotten out of control. It's good for her to swallow some pride before the recognition banquet." "Cancel the wedding? Please. If she doesn't marry me, she'll just be a maid's daughter for the rest of her life." Mia burst into triumphant, malicious laughter. I calmly saved the video to my phone. When the pain reaches its absolute limit, you stop feeling anything at all. I went back to the house Ethan and I had bought. And piece by piece, I packed up every single thing I owned and had it couriered to a new address. I knew Ethan wouldn't be coming home tonight. Ethan didn't show his face for three days. When he finally appeared, he was holding another "gift." It was a diamond bracelet. I had seen it on Mia's Instagram two days ago. Ethan had fastened it around her ankle. The wild, uninhibited lust he displayed with her was something I had never seen. We had known each other for twenty years and dated for five. Ethan always told me his family strictly forbade premarital sex. So, we had never crossed that line. He was always so disciplined, so proper, the perfect gentleman. Turns out he had a wild, ravenous side too; he just saved it for someone else. Ethan offered the bracelet to me like a grand prize. My body reacted instinctively. I gagged. Ethan's face immediately darkened. "Chloe, I know you're mad about the dress, but there has to be a limit to these tantrums." "If you hate me this much, why are you insisting on marrying me?" I took a sip of water to calm my stomach, then looked at him with an amused smile. "What about you?" "Do you still want to marry me, Ethan?" "The next time Mia uses her 'time traveler' excuse, are you going to throw me under the bus for her again without a second thought?" Ethan was momentarily speechless. I took a deep breath. I pointed at the wall of shelves filled with designer boxes. "Forty-four gifts." "Every single time you made me suffer for Mia's sake, you bought me a gift." "Ethan, your heart shifted a long time ago. Just like my parents'." I stated the facts calmly, then turned and walked away. We parted on terrible terms. I headed straight to the recognition banquet. Mia was fluttering around my biological parents like a social butterfly. When my parents saw me, their reaction was entirely lukewarm. They just repeatedly lectured me, warning me that no matter what happened today, I needed to remember Mia was the 'true' heiress who had suffered, and I shouldn't cause a scene. I knew instantly that Ethan had interfered. And my parents had silently agreed to play along with whatever he planned. Even though I had long accepted that no one in this world would ever stand unconditionally behind me... In that moment, a tiny, bitter ache still flickered in my chest. Ethan arrived late. Wearing a perfectly tailored tuxedo, he stood next to my parents and Mia. They looked like the perfect, happy family. Among the guests were several alumni from our old prep school. Seeing me, two of them walked over, swirling their champagne glasses as they looked me up and down with mocking sneers. "Today is Mia's big day. How did a rat like you sneak in?" "Don't flatter yourself. You're just a maid's daughter. With your filthy bloodline, do you really think you can steal Mia's family and her man?" "Security! Throw this trash out!" I was quickly surrounded and harassed. Seeing the commotion, Ethan immediately started walking toward me. "Ah!" Mia dramatically faked a twisted ankle, grabbing his arm with a pitiful look. "It hurts." Ethan's attention was instantly diverted. He gave her a helpless, fond smile. "You're so clumsy. Tripping on a perfectly flat floor?" Despite his words, he immediately scooped her up into his arms. My eyes stung sharply. I quickly looked away, hiding my humiliation. "Aww, is the little rat crying?" The group laughed obnoxiously, reaching out to shove me. I didn't hesitate. I slapped each of them hard across the face. I spoke in a flat, icy tone. "You're about to find out who really belongs outside." "It's been years, and you're still playing the same pathetic high school bullying games. I actually feel sorry for you." They glared at me, furious, but they were genuinely shocked by my reaction. None of them dared to lay another finger on me. Just then, the music swelled over the speakers. The recognition ceremony was beginning. My parents, beaming with joy, led Mia onto the grand stage. "As you can all see, we are hosting this grand banquet today to celebrate finally bringing our biological daughter back home." "There have been some... rumors circulating recently, which I'm sure many of you have heard." "We want to formally clarify right here and now: the Sterling family has one, and only one, precious princess, and that is Mia. As for anyone else claiming otherwise, we have no idea what malicious individuals are spreading such lies." The crowd erupted into furious whispers. Dozens of malicious, mocking stares landed on me. But I didn't react at all. I calmly raised my glass and took a slow sip of red wine. Mia blinked her large, innocent eyes at me, playing the perfect, victimized angel over the microphone: "Sister, I know you lived in our house for so long, and your heart was corrupted by the luxury. I know you dream of being a true daughter of the Sterling family." "Even though you stole my fiancé, and tried to steal my parents, I don't blame you." "If you want, I can ask Mom and Dad to legally adopt you as a goddaughter. But please, I'm begging you, give Ethan back to me. I really can't live without him." Ethan frowned slightly, but made absolutely no move to stop her. In that exact second, the very last, microscopic shred of affection I held for him evaporated into nothingness. I offered a faint smile. "So, you're the true heiress of the Sterling family?" "Of course. Mom and Dad just announced it. Didn't you hear them?" "Then what is this?" I pulled a certified DNA paternity report from my purse and held it high. The bold print clearly stated that the probability of paternity between the Sterlings and myself was 99.99%. And the probability for Mia was 0.014%. The ballroom exploded in shock. Mia's face turned a sickly shade of gray. Ethan marched over, his face devoid of emotion. He snatched the report from my hand and ripped it into shreds without a second thought. Ruthlessly issuing a death sentence to the truth. "Chloe, stop throwing tantrums. Why do you have to compete with Mia for everything? Isn't having me enough for you?" "Mia is the one and only true heiress of the Sterling family. If you keep playing these crazy games with fake reports, I'm not going to tolerate it anymore." "Take Chloe out of here." Ethan's bodyguards grabbed my arms and started dragging me toward the exit. I fought back fiercely. "Ethan! Let me ask you one last time. Are you absolutely certain you want to stand with Mia?" I locked eyes with him, staring into his soul. This final question was the only grace I was offering him, a repayment for the time he saved my life in high school. But Ethan disappointed me to the bitter end. He looked at me with deep exasperation, like dealing with an unreasonable child. "Are you done acting crazy?!" "Mia is younger than you. Why are you always trying to compete with her?"
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